Watch out, Junie, there's a new kid on the block! It's Freddy Thresher, a first grader who knows it's a jungle out there. A new chapter book series written by an elementary teacher who's seen it all!Freddy Thresher has a problem: a really, really, big problem. He never has anything cool to bring for show-and-tell. This week, his best friend, Robbie, has brought the most amazing artifact to share: a real alligator head. How will Freddy come up with anything as cool as that? Good news! Later that day, he finds something very unusual and exciting. If only he can get it to school without his mom, "The Neat Freak," finding out, Freddy will be the King of Show-and-Tell!

Aleca Zamm, an ordinary ten-year-old with an extraordinary talent, is on a mission to find the other Wonder at her school and find out what their special power is in this hilarious follow-up to Aleca Zamm Is a Wonder.Every roller-skating party has its pooper... And for Aleca Zamm, that pooper is Madison, her former best friend and current worst enemy. But Aleca's mom insisted that Aleca invite her entire class to her tenth birthday party at the skating rink—including queen-of-mean Madison! What's even worse? Aleca suspects that Madison knows about Aleca's magical ability to freeze time. And that could mean over-the-top trouble for Aleca and Aunt Zephyr, her kooky teleporting aunt. There's no telling what dangers await if news about their mysterious abilities gets out. Between Aunt Zephyr's risky roller-skating tricks and Madison's threat of spilling Aleca's secret, Aleca is sure that her tenth birthday party will be a total disaster!

From a Pulitzer Prize finalist comes a hilarious and heartbreaking novel about a musician climbing back from rock bottom. As winter deepens in snowbound Pollard, Illinois, thirty-something Francis Falbo is holed up in his attic apartment, recovering from a series of traumas: his mother's death, his beloved wife's desertion, and his once-ascendant rock band's irreconcilable break-up. Francis hasn't shaved in months, hasn't so much as changed out of his bathrobe-"the uniform of a Life in Default"-for nine days. Other than the agoraphobia that continues to hold him hostage, all he has left is his childhood home, whose remaining rooms he rents to a cast of eccentric tenants, including a pair of former circus performers whose daughter has gone missing. The tight-knit community has already survived a blizzard, but there is more danger in store for the citizens of Pollard before summer arrives. Francis is himself caught up in these troubles as he becomes increasingly entangled in the affairs of others, with results that are by turns disastrous, hysterical, and ultimately healing. Fusing consummate wit with the seriousness attending an adulthood gone awry, Rapp has written an uproarious and affecting novel about what we do and where we go when our lives have crumbled around us. Sharp-edged but tenderhearted, Know Your Beholder introduces us to one of the most lovably flawed characters in recent fiction, a man at last able to collect the jagged pieces of his dreams and begin anew, in both life and love. Seldom have our foibles and our efforts to persevere in spite of them been laid bare with such heart and hope.**

Annie Barrows' bestselling chapter book series, Ivy & Bean, is a classroom favorite and has been keeping kids laughing–—and reading—for more than a decade! With more than 5 million copies in print, Ivy & Bean return with a brand-new book for a new generation!Ivy & Bean are back . . . and they are funnier than ever!Ivy's worried. She's read a lot of books about only children, so she knows that they are sometimes spoiled rotten. They don't share their toys. They never do any work. They scream and cry when they don't get their way. Spoiler alert! Ivy doesn't have any brothers or sisters. That's why she's worried. How can she keep from getting spoiled? She could give away all her clothes, but she'd probably get in trouble. She could give away all her toys, but she likes her toys. There's really only one solution: she needs a baby sister, on the double! Luckily, Ivy and Bean know just where to get one.

A date with her past! When nurse Emily Stewart puts herself up for a hospital charity auction, she never expects the winning bidder to be Lucas Cain—her new boss...and ex-husband! Since their marriage crumbled, Emily hasn't wanted to experience such tempestuous passion again. And she's still hiding a heartbreaking secret from Lucas... Yet he's changed during their years apart, and soon a red-hot fling is impossible to resist! Dare she finally open up to Lucas and give their love a second chance?

From a Pulitzer Prize finalist comes a hilarious and heartbreaking novel about a musician climbing back from rock bottom. As winter deepens in Pollard, Illinois, 30-something Francis Falbo is holed up in an attic apartment, recovering from a series of traumas: his mother's death, his beloved wife's desertion, and his once-ascendant rock band's irreconcilable break-up. He hasn't changed out of his bathrobe-"the uniform of a Life in Default"-for nine days. All he has left is his childhoom home, whose remaining rooms he rents to a cast of eccentric tenants, becoming increasingly entangled in their lives, with results that are by turns disastrous, hysterical, and ultimately healing. KNOW YOUR BEHOLDER is an uproarious and affecting novel about what we do when our lives have crumbled around us and we must collect the jagged pieces and begin anew. Seldom have our foibles and our efforts to perservere in spite of them been laid bare with such heart and hope.

Freddy is ready — for 2nd Grade! It's almost Christmas, and Freddy is thrilled when his teacher tells the class that they'll be doing a Secret Santa gift swap. He can't wait to make a special present for one of his friends — until Freddy picks the worst name in the class! Freddy can't believe it, but maybe with some help from his friends he can be the best Secret Santa ever!

Yikes! As if being the new girl isn't bad enough, Charlotte just made the biggest cafeteria blunder in the history of Abigail Adams Junior High. There's no way that Katani, Avery, and Maeve will want anything to do with her now. Can a mysterious landlady, a romantic evening gone wrong, and a cryptic key to nowhere help four very different girls become the best of friends? Or will they remain worst enemies forever?

A coming-of-age tale for young adults set in the trenches of the Vietnam War in the late 1960s, this is the story of Perry, a Harlem teenager who volunteers for the service when his dream of attending college falls through. Sent to the front lines, Perry and his platoon come face-to-face with the Vietcong and the real horror of warfare. But violence and death aren't the only hardships. As Perry struggles to find virtue in himself and his comrades, he questions why black troops are given the most dangerous assignments, and why the U.S. is even there at all.

It’s the seventh grade "outdoor education trip" to Lake Rescue! Adventure girl Charlotte’s excited; city girls Katani and Isabel are not so sure. Of course, outdoor sports are right up Avery’s alley, but bugs, snakes, and bears are so not up Maeve’s. But no self-respecting BSG wants to miss out on adventures, and the week at Lake Rescue has more than its share: rock climbing, an unfortunate canoeing incident for a Queen of Mean, a hike that turns dangerous -- and the chance for one classmate to discover strengths she didn’t know she had.

Meet Kevin Pugh, 12-year-old couch potato. Now meet Cromwell, his part beagle, part potato chip dog. Kevin's looking forward to spending his summer doing as little as possible. Unfortunately, Kevin's father, former Chicago Bears star player/super-sports fanatic, Howie Pugh, feels differently. So does Cromwell, who has suddenly and mysteriously developed a fascination with agility competitions: running up seesaws, leaping over hurdles, soaring through hoops (sometimes). If he has to do anything, Kevin would rather do something for newly obsessed Cromwell, but dog agility lessons do not constitute a sport in his father's mind, so football camp it is. Until some well-timed events collide, literally, and soon Kevin's found a way for he and Cromwell to take classes, and the upstart Team Cromwell is born.Andy Behrens has written a hilarious novel with a dry-as-dirt protagonist who's constantly tortured by the goings-on around him. It's also a charming story about a boy and...

JANICE LYNN celebrates the release of her debut novel, JANE MILLIONAIRE (DORCHESTER, 2005). With this charming, fun tale Janice has established herself as a unique voice in contemporary romance which was validated with her winning Romantic Times AMERICAN TITLE CONTEST. JANE MILLIONAIRE competed for six months in the American Idol style contest and won the contest in April, 2005 at the Romantic Times convention in St. Louis, MO. Prior to winning the American Title contest, JANE MILLIONAIRE won the prestigious GOLDEN PEN award.From BooklistIn an effort to get away from the man who dumped her, and to appease her flighty sister, Jill Davidson agrees to pose as her sister Jessie, who landed the starring role in a reality TV show called Jane Millionaire. Now she's in a small European country, pretending to be Jessie, who is pretending to be "Jane," the princess of said country. Twelve men are to spend time with her, hoping to be chosen by the princess. But Jill only has eyes for Rob Lancaster. Rob appears indifferent, but he's attracted to Jill as well. Many issues stand in their way, including Jill's lies about her identity, and the fact that Rob's entire career depends on the success of the show, which does not allow for canoodling with the star. It's an all-out war between their heads and hearts as Lynn's love-struck characters struggle with conflicted feelings and subterfuge in this thoroughly modern, surprise-filled, and entertaining romance. Maria HattonCopyright © American Library Association. All rights reservedReviewDon’t miss this fabulous book. Janice Lynn is definitely an author to watch! -- Reader to Reader Reviews, Suzanne Coleburn, October 2005Fans of reality TV, fans of romance, and fans of engaging stories with endearing protagonists will enjoy this story. -- The Romance Studio, Sarah W., reviewer, October 2005I look forward to her next book! -- The Best Reviews, Kathy Boswell, reviewer & managing editor, October 2005JANE MILLIONAIRE is delightful, funny and oh-so romantic. If it possible to give a rating higher than 5, I would. -- Romance Junkies, Rosie Bindra, November 1, 2005Janice Lynn is a name that will soon become a household name within the romance genre. -- Fallen Angel Reviews, Missy Andrews, reviewer, October 2005